October is Orthodox Awareness Month On College Campuses

BROOKLINE, MA -- Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF) has designated October as Orthodox Awareness Month to foster an understanding of Orthodox Christianity and educate students on college campuses across North America.

Throughout the month of October, OCF chapters are encouraged to organize activities and programs at their schools, which aim to share our Holy Apostolic Faith with the campus community at large. Events include setting up informational tables and hosting speakers, as well as chapter events compiled by OCF's Student Advisory Board (SAB), which generate interest, such as "Compline & Coffee," "Pizza and Paraklesis," and many others.

"Participating in Orthodox Awareness Month can benefit a local chapter by strengthening their internal bonds and their relationship with their local parish," explains Tanya Schillawski, SAB Praxis Coordinator and student at Northeastern University. "Although the focus is on educating non-Orthodox Christians about the Orthodox Faith, it's also about ourselves learning more so that we can be witnesses of Christ and His Church to the best of our ability."

Students and OCF advisors can download the Orthodox Awareness Month Manual, which contains a step-by-step guide to tabling on campus, ideas for Orthodox 101 session topics and other possible chapter events, OCF North American Programs, and other resources. Included is also a packet entitled, "Presenting Orthodoxy," which provides helpful facts about Orthodoxy and answers to frequently asked questions. All this can be found at www.ocf.net.

About OCFOrthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF) is the official collegiate campus ministry program under the North American Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops. Our mission is to support fellowships on college campuses, whose members experience and witness to the Orthodox Christian Church through community life, prayer, service to others and study of the Faith. Our headquarters is located in Brookline, Mass. and supports more than 300 local university chapters across North America. In addition, we provide a variety of thoughtful and innovative programming, including regional training, annual conferences, and domestic and international service programs.